108-feet-tall statue of Mahadev constructed at Paundi, Lamjung

Lamjung, July 16: A 108-feet-tall statue of the Hindu god Siddheshwar Mahadev has been constructed at Paundi, Sundar Bazar municipality-7 in Lamjung district.

The local Shivajee Mahadev Temple Conservation Committee built this statue at this location close to the Marsyangdi river for developing the area as a touristic and religious site.     

Committee Vice-Chair Chandra Prasad Pokharel said that together with the Mahadev statue, the idols of lord Ganesha, Vishnu and Basaha (the Bull), the vehicle of Lord Shiva, have been built in the premises.     

Sculptors from Kathmandu and Pokhara were brought here to build the statues. The statues were built at a cost of Rs 25 million, said Pokharel.     

According to him, so far donation of Rs 1.4 million has been collected for constructing the Mahadev statue.     

Thousands of devotees from various places visit this site during the Thulo Ekadashi festival for taking holy dip in the Marsyangdi river and performing several other religious rites.     

Paundi is located near the Dumre-Besisahar road on the border between Lamjung and Tanahun districts. Locals believe that the trade and business in the area would increase with the construction of religious infrastructures at Paundi.     

Mayor of Sundar Bazar Municipality, Krishna Prasad Koirala, expressed the confidence that the construction of the 108-geet-tall Mahadev statue and the 108 traditional water spouts and the Shiva Lingas at Paundi will contribute to promoting spiritual tourism in the area.     

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